Tag: Antonio Williams

Dabo Swinney is not worried about the play of Clemson’s wide receivers

Swinney isn’t worried about the play at wide receiver after Week 1. There was “nothing alarming” from the performance.

Clemson’s wide receivers had an up-and-down performance in the Tigers’ 28-7 Week 1 loss to Duke, but Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney isn’t worried about their showing.

Clemson starting quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 27-of-43 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in this matchup, with Clemson wide receivers struggling with drops and creating separation. Swinney understands these issues but acknowledges that this is just a part of football. 

“I did not watch a single game across the country where there were not some drops,” Swinney said. “I did not watch a single game. Yes, we caught the ball well. Yeah, we had a couple of critical drops. We had one third-and-eight there with Antonio (Williams) on a competitive play. Again, we threw for 200-plus (yards). For our first game, we did a lot of good things. I thought Beaux Collins played outstanding.”

Drops were a big issue for the Tigers. Williams wasn’t the only one with a tough drop, with Will Shipley’s leading to an interception. If the Tigers can limit these mistakes, they can perform up to their potential. 

“Yeah, we had a couple of little things,” Swinney said. “We had the one that Shipley should have caught, and that is really just a fundamental thing of him finding the route instead of drifting in the route and kind of running before he catches it.

“When you watch the NFL, you are going to see some drops. Was it an epidemic? No. Are you happy and satisfied with any drops? No. Is there anything alarming? It was actually a pretty good start with this group. We definitely have room for improvement.”

Heading into the Tigers’ Week 2 matchup against Charleston Southern, Swinney and his team need a bounce-back performance. At wide receiver, he isn’t worried. People make mistakes, and this team is built to recover and build on. 

“These are human beings. These are not robots. This is not artificial intelligence running around out there. These are young people,” Swinney said. “I thought for the first game, it was a good start and is something we can build on.

“We were certainly not perfect, but nothing alarming or anything like that.”

Who will be Cade Klubnik’s favorite target?

The Tigers need a big time receiver in order for Garrett Riley new offense to work. Who will it be?

Last season, one of the biggest issues for the Tigers was the lack of a passing threat down the field. Many wanted to blame DJ Uiagaleli for the offensive struggles, but I’ll ask those same detractors: Who was he throwing the ball to?

Since Dabo Swinney has been the head coach of the Clemson Tigers football team, the wide receiver room has been one of his best group of players. That wasn’t the case for Uiagaleli, with only two players catching more than 500 yards receiving.

Most of the group from a year ago is returning and will run routes within a new system.

Antonio Williams led the team in yards last season with 604 yards, and some expect him to be this year’s leader. Antonio Williams is a talented wide receiver on the Clemson team. As a Freshmen All-American, he can seamlessly play any position in Garrett Riley’s offense, whether in the slot or outside.

Another name that has been popping up is Beaux Collins. The junior wideout from Los Angeles averaged 17 yards per catch and tied for the most receiving touchdowns with five. Collins has been performing phenomenally during the offseason, making plays every time the Tigers touch the field.

Another sophomore, Adam Randall, is returning after suffering an injury last season. Randall completes the trio Klubnik will sling passes to this season, but we don’t know how impactful he can be with only ten catches from last season.

He is excited about how the room is growing.

“It’s been a great feel. Just us going out there and being competitive with each other and making each other better,” Randall started. “Thankfully, me and Beaux being healthy, because we weren’t there during the spring, just us being able to bring some kind of leadership and go out there and set the standard it’s really helpful for our entire room and Coach Grisham himself.”

Antonio Williams shares high praise for freshman Greenville native WR Tyler Brown

Antonio Williams had excellent things to say about this freshman wide receiver out of Greenville.

Sophomore wide receiver Antonio Williams was the best wide receiver for Clemson his freshman season and knows exactly what it takes to produce at the collegiate level. 

Heading into the 2023 season, Williams and the rest of the wide receiver room have been working hard to improve their games as they have an opportunity alongside sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik to make a statement and prove Clemson’s offense is back on track. A freshman who has caught Williams’ eyes in camp is Greenville native Tyler Brown. 

A film junkie, Williams took the time to study Brown’s high school tape and had some great things to say about the freshman.

”I’m a big film guy so when I see freshmen commit or anything, I’m going to watch the film. That’s how I was in high school…my sophomore year, I was injured and I didn’t have any offers or anything so I’m out here watching guys that are ranked above me,” Williams said. ”Tyler Brown, he’s very good, very fast. He’s got good technique, he knows how to get in and out of breaks so he’s going to be a great player for sure.”

With high praise from a great player, Brown could learn a lot from Williams as he develops. We look forward to seeing the freshman in action.

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Williams speaks on maturing as a player, his ‘lowest point’ last season

Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams had a productive freshman season in 2022, but he is looking to be a more complete player this fall.

When Clemson lost to South Carolina for the first time since 2013 last November, there was a lot of blame going around from fans, some of it directed toward wide receiver Antonio Williams.

Down 31-30 against the Gamecocks, Clemson’s defense forced a three-and-out with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, setting up the Tigers to have a game-winning drive. But Clemson’s offense never even took the field, as Williams fumbled on the punt return, sealing the loss for the Tigers. Had Clemson come back and won that game, it could have had a chance at returning to the College Football Playoff.

It was a costly mistake for Williams, who was wrapping up an impressive true-freshman season and caught the only passing touchdown for the Tigers in that game.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Williams spoke about how difficult that moment was for him.

“It’s definitely a chip on my shoulder,” Williams said of the South Carolina loss. “It was probably the lowest point I had in my freshman career. In a big game like that, that’s the last thing you want. You feel like you let down all of the older guys. So, I’m coming back just trying to make more plays for them and try to win, just do the most that I can.”

Williams added that his family and the coaching staff were very supportive of him after the fumble. He said that head coach Dabo Swinney told him that mistakes are going to happen in his career, but it’s important to realize that the future can be brighter.

In an effort to learn from his mistakes as a freshman and grow as a player, the Irmo, South Carolina, native is putting his best foot forward on and off the field this fall.

“I think as a freshman, I was kind of immature,” Williams said. “There was a lot on my plate trying to focus on football and school at the same time. So, I would show up late to class, and I would miss class just from being tired from trying to gain a starting position. And then having to have school, it was just a lot.

“This year, I’m trying to take a step back but still focus on school, for sure, because that’s the main priority. Just doing both at a high level.”

Playing primarily in the slot in 2022, Williams was the Tigers’ most productive wide receiver, finishing with a team-high 56 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns.

As Clemson looks to climb back to the top of the mountain, Williams is set to play an instrumental role in a revamped offense under first-year offensive coordinator Garrett Riley.

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Cade Klubnik on who’s going to be making plays in Clemson’s offense

Cade Klubnik discusses the Tigers’ offense heading into the 2023 season.

Cade Klubnik was present for the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff and discussed the Clemson offense heading into the season. 

When asked who will be making plays for the Tigers next season, the young quarterback had nothing but great things to say about the team. Klubnik started with the offensive line stating how it will be the best group they’ve had up front in years. 

He had heavy praise for the Tigers’ 1-2 punch in the backfield, saying that he thinks Will Shipley and Phil Mafah are the two best running backs in the country. The final group he discussed is the most important, the wide receivers. 

Clemson needs their wide receivers to step up and take the next step. Klubnik took the time to discuss each one of his targets heading into the season and, like the others, had high praise for his teammates. 

Take a look at the video below to listen to Klubnik discuss this Clemson offense heading into the season.

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Garrett Riley shares praise for sophomore wide receiver Antonio Williams heading into 2023

Riley says, “The sky is the limit” for sophomore wide receiver Antonio Williams.

During the 2022 season, freshman wide receiver Antonio Williams stepped up and became the Tigers’ top wide receiver when the program needed one.

Now a sophomore, Clemson’s new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley shared praise for Williams recently speaking on his growth and development as a wide receiver. Expectations are high for Williams heading into 2023, who has only improved this offseason. 

“I know he’s gotten faster. Physically, he’s in a better place than what he’s been at,” Riley said. “The sky’s the limit for him. I mean, he was really, really good for us, really productive this spring. I thought he was consistent the whole way through. He’s a confident kid anyway. The guy’s made a lot of plays here already, but he’s going to continue to make a lot more for us. But I think physically, he’s really starting to buy in to the importance of that for him in his position.”

Starting 10 out of 14 games in his freshman season with the Tigers in n 2022, Williams recorded 56 catches for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first true freshman to lead the Tigers in receiving yards since Justyn Ross in 2018 and the first to lead in receptions since Artavis Scott in 2014.

Williams was one of the most exciting pieces of Clemson’s offense last season, and in 2023, he should be even more exciting. Cade Klubnik has a reliable target in Williams.

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PFF names 16 Tigers to their 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team

A total of 16 Tigers were named to PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team.

Heading into the 2023 college football season, the Clemson football program will battle to remain the top dogs in the ACC with Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles. 

The ACC will be strong next season, but at the top of the conference should be the Tigers and the Seminoles. Two programs with a ton of talent and much to prove in 2023. 

The amount of talent these two programs have is prevalent in Pro Football Focus’ 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team, where Clemson and FSU had the most players make the team. However, it was the Tigers who had the most members, with 16 names making the cut. 

Here is a look at every Tiger who made PFF’s 2023 Preseason All-ACC team.

FIRST TEAM

RB Will Shipley

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

CB Nate Wiggins

SECOND TEAM

WR Antonio Williams

TE Jake Briningstool

G Marcus Tate

DI Tyler Davis

DI Ruke Orhorhoro

LB Barrett Carter

S R.J, Mickens

RS Will Shipley

THIRD TEAM

QB Cade Klubnik

T Blake Miller

C Will Putnam

Edge Xavier Thomas

S Jalyn Phillips

Flex Andrew Mukuba

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‘The sky is the limit’: Clemson coaches high on Williams to have sophomore surge

There are high expectations for this sophomore wide receiver, with WR coach Tyler Grisham seeing some similarities to Hunter Renfrow.

Antonio Williams led Clemson in receptions and receiving yards as a freshman last year, but his coaches think he still has plenty of room to grow.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Clemson coaches raved about Williams, who is entering his sophomore campaign this fall.

One of the coaches that spoke highly of Williams was Garrett Riley, who is entering his first season as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.

“I know he’s gotten faster,” Riley said of Williams. “The guy is physically in a better place than where he’s been at. The sky is the limit for him. He was really, really good for us, really productive this spring. I thought he was consistent the whole way through, but I think physically, and probably his confidence level is growing; he’s a confident kid anyway. The guy has made a lot of plays here already, but he’s going to continue to make a lot more for us.”

Head coach Dabo Swinney had similar praise for the former four-star recruit.

“Physically, he’s in a different place. He’s mentally in a different place,” Swinney said. “He has a different understanding. I thought he hit a wall a little bit last year, and then he kind of came on and found himself again… it’s amazing how far he’s developed. I mean, you look at him; he’s thicker, he’s bigger, faster and stronger. And that’s what should happen if you’re putting the work in.”

Williams’ position coach, Tyler Grisham, added that he reminds him of Hunter Renfrow with the way Williams stays calm and even-keeled.

As the Tigers’ primary slot receiver, Williams finished 2022 with 56 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 15 punts for an average of 8.6 yards per return.

With the way the coaches are praising him, Williams could be in store for a breakout sophomore season this fall.

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SKOL Search: Vikings’ Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Our first mock draft roundup of the season has the Vikings selecting 12 different players

Mock draft season is upon us and that means our mock draft roundup is back!

What we do every week is track the mainstream outlets mock drafts and aggregate how many times a player gets selected. Last season, we tallied up 173 mock drafts and only 10 of them were on offense. This season could end up being much of the same.

We will track them and try to determine trends and patterns, along with giving my own analysis on how they could fit with the Minnesota Vikings

 

Swinney on Williams: ‘We’re not 10-2 without that kid’

Clemson turned the ball over three times in Saturday’s 31-30 loss to South Carolina at Death Valley, losing the turnover margin for the fifth straight game, as the Gamecocks had one less giveaway. “At the end of the day, we were minus one, and that …

Clemson turned the ball over three times in Saturday’s 31-30 loss to South Carolina at Death Valley, losing the turnover margin for the fifth straight game, as the Gamecocks had one less giveaway.

“At the end of the day, we were minus one, and that ended up being the difference in the game,” Swinney said in his postgame press conference.

Two of Clemson’s turnovers occurred in the last seven minutes of the game, and a fumble by freshman Antonio Williams in the waning moments proved to be the dagger.

The Tigers’ defense held South Carolina to a three-and-out with less than three minutes left, seemingly setting up one last chance for Clemson’s offense to drive for the winning score, down by a single point. But the unit never touched the ball again after Williams fumbled near midfield on the punt return. The Gamecocks recovered the loose ball with 2:09 remaining and ran out the rest of the clock.

Because South Carolina decided to throw the ball on third down before an incompletion forced the Gamecocks to punt, the Tigers didn’t have to use their last timeout and had one left, and would have had more than enough time to potentially get kicker B.T. Potter in position to attempt a game-winning field goal.

Unfortunately for Clemson, though, Potter never got that opportunity after the fumble.

“We got an unbelievable kicker. And they actually helped us, because they threw a pass,” Swinney said. “So, we had a timeout, and you got a chance to go win the game with plenty of time and you can really do whatever you need to do there, especially with only needing a field goal, and man.”

Williams’ fumble was costly and Swinney said he’s down about it, as you’d expect.

But Swinney made it a point to mention that the Tigers wouldn’t have 10 wins this season if it weren’t for the former four-star prospect from Irmo, S.C., who leads the team in catches (50), receiving yards (523), punt return yardage (130) and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns (4).

“Antonio is taking it tough,” Swinney said. “It was a rough day for him.”

“But you know, we’re not 10-2 without that kid,” Swinney added of Williams, who had an 11-yard touchdown catch against the Gamecocks. “I love him and wouldn‘t trade him for anybody.”

After seeing its seven-game winning streak against South Carolina come to an end, Clemson (10-2, 8-0 ACC) hopes to bounce back and win its seventh ACC title in eight years when it takes on North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3 (8 p.m., ABC).

“Again, it’s very personal to everybody involved when you live in this state,” Swinney said. “So, we’ve got own it and learn from it and see if we can get back to work Monday and go win this league. It’ll be an unbelievable opportunity for us to win the ACC and have a great finish to our season.”

Don’t miss Cyber Week Deals at Dear Old Clemson’s online store.  Deals will run through midnight Monday. 

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